One of the proposed "Behind the Mask" murals.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/City of Vernon

The Vernon Art Gallery says the city "missed an opportunity" by backing out of a controversial mural project.

Funding for the "Behind the Mask" public art project was revoked by Vernon city council this week after some citizens spoke out against the project.

Originally promised $33,000 in city funds, the project was meant to incite a public discussion around mental health, but residents against the art deemed the images too scary for the public, especially children.

“There needs to be a better system for decision-making on public art,” Vernon Public Art Gallery executive director, Dauna Kennedy, said in a news release.

“Few cities consult the public in the manner proposed by members of council because art is emotive and subjective. Public art is an important means of providing not only beautification to a community but also provoking thought and dialogue through critical works designed to challenge the viewer.”

The project returned for council multiple times before funding was pulled, Sept. 6.

READ MORE: Behind the Mask: Vernon's 'scary' murals don't actually scare children

Aside from city funding, the project got $55,000 in funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, $10,000 from the North Okanagan Regional District and $7,500 from Vernon Tourism.

After online petitions both for and against the mural project circulated online, the gallery surveyed the public, with 65 per cent of respondents in favour of the project. However, only 353 people participated.

“Recognizing how big of an issue mental health has become because of COVID, we wanted to create a dialogue around mental health using the visual arts as our language, and create awareness in a positive, engaging way,” Kennedy said.

While city council quashed the mural project in Vernon, the dream is still alive for the gallery.

READ MORE: Vernon council axe controversial mural project

Another community has approached the gallery, offering to take on the mural installations.

“It’s disappointing to see this decision after we did all that we were asked to do and having previously secured the city’s support as well as that of mental health professionals and community groups,” gallery president Andrew Powell said in the release.

The gallery news release didn't say exactly which city the murals could be installed in the future, and Kennedy couldn't be immediately reached by iNFOnews.ca for comment.

READ MORE: JONESIE: Public art exposes politicians for who they really are

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